Sameer Tanti

Sameer Tanti (b. 1956) has published several collections of his poems including Yuddhabhumir Kabitaa, Xokaakool Upatakyaa, and Xamay, Xabda Xapun.

Go, Give Them the News

Go, give them the news

tell them the water is knee deep now
they have to give the boats alone
the graveyards are to be dug up tomorrow
that should tell them all

Go, get the news across

take a lamp with you as you go
all lamps may have burnt out there
no oil may be, for the wicks which stand
all these belong to when the evening deepens

Go, get the news across

don't you tell them though
that the men are all lost
that with the roads
the courtyards too is lost
don't tell them of the firing at Kokrajhar
or of the homes and fields mortgaged

Go, tell them the news
know his walk well before you confide
hear his voice
measure his shadow if you can
with these ten these ten fingers

Go, get the news across

inform the police before you leave
rehearse before the mirror
what all you would say
give your address before you leave
so that town-folk get to know of you

Is it true really?
could be false
may not be
then it's a fact
Yes, yes, it is
Go, give them the news

It's true
it could
that's right, it may not [PA]